why not get the prices off Amazon, et al on the internet before you leave and then make your mind up when you see the prices in duty free?

I saved a load of money buying mine in Jersey a few years ago - no VAT and GST hadnt really kicked in then.

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The problem with that is that if Amazon / eBay / pawn shop is a lot cheaper, I'll be left either paying over the odds complete with free bitter aftertaste, or getting on long haul flight to sunny climes with no camera.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of buying a DSLR at duty free?

Does it actually save much or are better deals to be had on t'internet?

Looking at a low end Canon EOS kit of some varying degree of shininess.

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Dunno about cameras/electronics etc, but I've found that the rest of the stuff at the "duty free" is not much cheaper than what you find elsewhere. This includes booze, perfume, and makeup (the last two according to my wife, and keep your smartarse remarks to yourselves...), can't comment on cigs as I don't smoke.

Dunno about cameras/electronics etc, but I've found that the rest of the stuff at the "duty free" is not much cheaper than what you find elsewhere. This includes booze, perfume, and makeup (the last two according to my wife, and keep your smartarse remarks to yourselves...), can't comment on cigs as I don't smoke.

Check that the guarantee will be valid in the country you call home. If that's the UK then contact Canon UK direct and save their response if positive.

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My Canon warranty from Spain is valid in the UK, it's pan European. Thge problem is where the camera is being bought "duty free", if it's in the airport, the 20% less tax you pay is set off somewhat by the 50% extra these places charge. Media Markt do some amazing deals at times - my new Canon was about 100 euros less than everywhere else, then as an Easter special offer they were including the lens, and as a "special today", another 80&#8364;'s worth of camera bag.

When I was looking to replace mine I looked into Duty Free and found it was in the top third most expensive for the pieces of kit I was considering. In the end, I let my search be dictated by currency exchange rates and bought online from abroad.

Do your research and know exactly what you are after and what to pay. Also beware that you'll owe duty on the whole thing if it costs more than your duty free allowance. Coming back from Hong Kong some years back the colleague I was travelling ended up with (a) not the latest or best model (b) paying more than the UK list price (c) having to pay duty.